Laughing dove
Scientific name: Streptopelia senegalensis
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Small dove with grey-brown upperparts and vinous-grey breast and head. Distinctive black spotting on wings and collar. Sexes similar in plumage; males slightly larger and more robust.
Size and weight
Males 20–23 cm, 100–150 g; females 19–21 cm, 90–140 g.
Habitat
Open and semi-open scrubland, cultivated fields, and gardens with scattered trees. Ranges from sea level to 2,000 m elevation, preferring arid and semi-arid zones.
Distribution
Resident across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. Common in cultivated areas, village outskirts, and open savanna.
Diet
Primarily small seeds from grasses and weeds; supplements with grain and fallen fruit, especially during breeding season.
Behaviour
Diurnal and crepuscular feeder, most active early morning and late afternoon. Highly social, found in pairs or loose flocks; moves short distances between feeding and roosting sites.
Hunting tips
Scout feeding areas at dawn and dusk near grain stores and open ground. Read droppings and dust-bathing sites to locate regular routes. Approach upwind and use natural cover; birds flush readily with short, rapid flight to nearby trees.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 11 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.